Kylie fights for second in Christmas singles race

Page Tools

Kylie Minogue is in a race for second place on the British
Christmas singles chart now that the reworked Band Aid charity song
Do They Know It's Christmas is all but guaranteed the
coveted No. 1 spot.

Bookmakers William Hill stopped taking bets on the Band Aid
single to become the top Christmas tune two months ago.

They now tip Kylie's upbeat I Believe In You and the
Ronan Keating and Cat Stevens duet Father and Son as the
most likely runners-up.

"Band Aid is outselling Ronan Keating and Kylie by five to one
on a daily basis so it's absolutely sure-fire to be No. 1," Rupert
Adams, a William Hill spokesman, said yesterday.

"In terms of No. 2, if Father and Son wins, we'll
probably have a nigh on six-figure payout," he added.

But some stiff competition could come from Kylie, who jumped
straight into the No. 2 spot in last week's charts with her latest
release.

"It's neck and neck at the moment," said Gennaro Castaldo, a
spokesman for HMV. "My feeling is it's likely to be Kylie Minogue.
It's a very lively, great song - very catchy and likely to be
played at the parties a lot.

"The Ronan Keating song is very melancholic and mournful.

"Although it sometimes plays well at this time of year it
doesn't necessarily have the kind of zest you want for a Christmas
song."

Morrissey's I have forgiven Jesus, Bo Selecta's double
A-side Proper Chrimbo and rapper Ice Cube's You Can Do
It are also long-shot contenders, William Hill said.

The contest for top Christmas album is less clear cut.

Bookies say British crooner Robbie Williams holds a slight edge
over Irish rockers U2, who recently topped charts around the world
with their How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb album.